New Mexico
Legislation would add New Mexico to a growing list of states restricting PFAS – New Mexico Political Report
By Hannah Grover
New Mexico could follow the lead of approximately a dozen other states and restrict the sale or manufacturing of various household products including carpets, feminine hygiene products, cookware and cosmetics made with PFAS chemicals.
“Intentionally added PFAS in consumer goods are showing up at our breakfast tables, our kitchen tables, in our breakfast burritos, in our pepitas,” New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney said.
He said until New Mexico “takes a stance with the 13 other states” that have already passed laws restricting PFAS in consumer goods, the federal government “is off the hook.”
“We think the federal government would be best at regulating PFAS in consumer products,” Kenney said. “But until that time, we want to join the other states to protect our consumers, protect our families, to protect our water, to protect our land, and this is the way we’re going about doing it.”
Three Democratic House members — Joanne Ferrary of Las Cruces, Debra Sariñana of Albuquerque and Kathleen Cates of Rio Rancho — introduced HB 212 this week.
The bill is similar to Amara’s Law in Minnesota, as well as legislation passed in other states to restrict PFAS.
Amara’s Law was named for a young woman who developed a rare type of liver cancer after living near a 3M facility, which manufactured products containing PFAS. Amara Strand spent the last months of her life pushing for the legislation, which went into effect on Jan. 1 of this year.
PFAS — also known as forever chemicals — have been linked to various health impacts including cancer, pre-term births, increased risks of infection and some types of liver disease.
One way that New Mexico’s legislation differs from those in other states is that it allows manufacturers to set up producer responsibility organizations. These organizations would be tasked with ensuring products containing PFAS are properly disposed of. Kenney said producers will have the choice of either removing PFAS from their household products altogether or forming a producer responsibility organization to take responsibility for disposal of those household products.
HB 212 refers to these organizations as stewardship programs and states the Environmental Improvement Board can “create, enforce or terminate a [PFAS] stewardship program.”
While New Mexico doesn’t have someone like Strand to name its bill after, there are still plenty of stories around the state about how PFAS has impacted communities.
Many of those stories are from communities neighboring military bases. Officials are also addressing high levels of PFAS in drinking water wells near Santa Fe, though the source of that contamination has not yet been confirmed.
Kenney said PFAS chemicals have also been found at Ski Apache in Ruidoso due to the use of such substances in certain types of ski wax.
He said some communities are also experiencing high PFAS levels due to septic tanks.
“The more we look, the more we find, and our ability to look is limited by our own budget,” Kenney said.
The environment department has conducted blood testing in the Clovis area and has urged hunters who have consumed waterfowl from Holloman Lake to get their blood tested. The PFAS contamination in those areas is due to firefighting exercises at nearby military bases. The firefighting foam used in training contained PFAS.
Kenney said HB 212 will not restrict PFAS in firefighting foams because the bill is intended to target household products and, generally, New Mexicans will not be bringing firefighting foams into their houses.
The restrictions in HB 212 would be implemented in two phases. The first phase, which would go into effect in 2027, prohibits the sale of products such as cookware, food packaging, dental floss and juvenile products containing PFAS.
Kenney explained that those products have the potential of PFAS being ingested by consumers, which has higher risks associated with it than skin contact.
In 2028, the bill would prevent the sale of products such as carpets, rugs, cleaning products, cosmetics, fabric treatments, feminine hygiene products, textiles, textile furnishings, ski wax and upholstered furniture.
Kenney said right now consumers can walk into stores and purchase products that say they are non-toxic but actually contain PFAS.
“People who are not familiar with this topic are being told that the things they’re bringing into their home are safe,” he said.
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NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in New Mexico can maximize their benefits by supporting local businesses.
The New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association (NMFMA) announced a limited-time expanded incentive program during 2026, meaning that SNAP participants can triple their purchasing power for locally grown fruits and vegetables by utilizing Double Up Food Bucks and Bonus Bucks.
“Programs like Double Up Food Bucks and Bonus Bucks make it easier for New Mexicans to access locally grown food while supporting our state’s farmers,” Denise Miller, executive director of the NMFMA, stated in a news release. “This expansion is about ensuring families can bring more healthy food to the table while also strengthening our local food system.”
Double Up Food Bucks matches SNAP-EBT spending dollar-for-dollar at participating farmers’ markets and farm stands. With the addition of Bonus Bucks, shoppers will receive an extra match for locally grown fruits and vegetables.
For example, a $10 SNAP purchase receives $10 in Double Up Food Bucks plus $10 in Bonus Bucks, providing a total of $20 worth of free locally grown fruits and vegetables and $10 to spend on all SNAP-eligible foods.
Bonus Bucks will roll out this month and must be used by August 31, or while funds last. Double Up Food Bucks do not expire.
Bonus Bucks will be available at 51 outlets across the state. To find farmers’ markets and farm stand locations, opening dates, and hours, click here. More information on how to use SNAP benefits at those locations can be found here.
New Mexico
New Mexico’s Glorious ‘Quiet Lake’ Is A Serene State Park Escape With Stellar Fishing And Camping – AOL
New Mexico is officially known as the Land of Enchantment, thanks to its mix of vibrant cities like Albuquerque along with dramatic desert and mountain landscapes. And while New Mexico’s federally protected places like White Sands National Park and Bandelier National Monument might have more name recognition, you can find some incredible beauty in one of New Mexico’s 35 state parks. Just look at Heron Lake State Park in northern New Mexico. It’s a designated “quiet lake,” since boats can’t go fast enough to leave a wake, which helps make for a relaxing getaway. This lake is an ideal place for all kinds of outdoor recreation, including fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking, and stargazing.
The park is near the Colorado border, about 2 hours and 45 minutes north of Albuquerque and a little under 2 hours from Taos. It’s a relatively new lake; the dam was built in 1971 on Willow Creek as a part of the San Juan-Chama Project. This pretty lake sits at 7,167 feet, and it’s surrounded by pine forest.
Heron Lake is popular for fishing year round, including ice fishing in the winter, and it holds the record as the location for the largest lake trout caught in the state. It’s also good for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Make sure to check all regulations for what’s in season, and get a state fishing license before you go.
Read more: Think Twice Before Swimming In These Dangerous US Lakes
Boating and hiking at New Mexico’s Heron Lake State Park
Kayaker paddling on Heron Lake State Park in New Mexico – VisitNewMexico/YouTube
While boats are required to go slow enough that they don’t leave a wake at Heron Lake State Park, you can still get out on the water. It’ll just be a calmer experience than at many other lakes. There are a couple of boat docks and a marina, so it’s easy to launch a kayak, paddleboard, or a sail boat, and there’s miles of peaceful shoreline to explore. There are also areas for swimming. It can get hot here in summer, so a dip in the lake is a great way to cool off.
If getting out on the trail is more your thing, you can put your hiking shoes to good use at Heron Lake State Park. The Salmon Run Trail is 5 miles long one way, and it runs along the south side of the lake. It’s open for hiking as well as mountain biking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. The East Meadow Trail takes you about 2.5 miles one way from the Visitor Center to a lake overlook. You can even get to the neighboring El Vado State Park via the Rio Chama Trail. It’s a 5.5 mile one-way trail that takes hikers through the ponderosa pine forest and across a suspension bridge over the Rio Chama Gorge.
Birdwatching and camping at Heron Lake State Park
Camper at Heron Lake State Park – Swifty Travels/YouTube
While you might guess that Heron Lake State Park got its name from the bird, it was actually named after Kenneth A. Heron, a New Mexico engineer. But even though its name came from a person, it’s still a good place for bird watching: bald eagles, snow geese, white faced ibises, American avocets, and more all make their home here for at least a part of the year. Other wildlife that you might find here include black bears, so be bear aware when you’re hiking and camping.
If you have the gear for a camping trip, it’s well worth staying the night, in part because the star gazing here is fantastic. It’s more than an hour away from a major city, so there’s not much light pollution, and its higher elevation often means there are clearer skies.
The park has nearly 200 campsites spread across eight different campgrounds, including some electric sites for RVs. There are also showers and restrooms. If you’d rather rough it, there are also three primitive camping areas.
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Read the original article on Islands.
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